State's late embrace of DNA helps Manning's case

6:21 PM,
May 7, 2013

Written by

Sid Salter

The decision by the Mississippi Supreme Court to grant convicted quadruple murderer Willie Jerome Manning a stay of execution on Tuesday is one likely decided on the side of both political and legal caution in light of recent developments.

The 11the hour reprieve came on an 8-1 decision by the state's highest court after issues were raised by Manning's attorneys challenging the testimony of FBI agents regarding ballistics and hair analysis used to convict him. At the same time, statements by state Attorney General Jim Hood, District Attorney Forrest Allgood and former Oktibbeha County ...